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Speak Out: Contest Databases

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KA9SQR on 2004-10-25
In our little contest world we have reached a happy conclusion... Call check is nice to assist, but always verify information beforehand rather than having to scrub later. We at one time relied a bit too heavily on what other people spotted and call check, and saw our log accuracy drop a bit, which the big daddy of the shack did NOT approve of :) regardless of what we scored.

We had a team meeting (big daddy did all the talking, we did all the nodding) and decided to continue to use spots and checks as just what they were meant for... to assist and confirm what our ears hear, nothing more nothing less. Log accuracy is back up and the big daddy of the shack is once again satisfied. Our team is family, we do our best, compete as hard as we can while still showing common decency to our fellow contesters,but always still manage to have fun.

I like the spot and check tools, as long as they are used as a tool to double check what you are about to log.

Dan - KA9SQR

n6yeu on 2004-10-12
No contest is that important to have a data base to help figure out calls. Part of the enjoyment is digging out the weak ones and getting them right or wrong. Memory helps also. You remember familiar calls over the years and just use your "internal computer".

K7MH on 2004-10-03
Although I think the use of databases, spotting and such are "tacky" at least, I also see that they are going to be used by some almost no matter what. There isn't any real way to enforce rules against their use and that adds to the problem. What seems to happen is the contest Gods start making more and more entry catagories to adjust for these "station differences". I don't think however that over a whole contest period that these databases are going to solve hundreds of broken calls in a log and put you on top. You simply can not rely on them for a high score.
These things are part of the evolution of equipment and contesting so build a bridge and get over it! I don't like handicapping in competitive events either. Learn to run with the bulls or get crushed!

W0AH on 2004-09-27
I downloaded Super Check partial for the CQWW RTTY contest. I had never used it before. I found it to be of little use and didn't look at it after the first couple of hours. There were often so-o many call choices that choosing one would usually just be a guess. I suppose in the SS it might be useful for filling in missed CK and section, but isn't that a bit like Rosie Ruiz winning the Boston marathon by starting at the 24 mile mark?

OH1WZ on 2004-09-22
A good database really makes a difference. For the 2003 CQ WW I was able to use a collection of calls from a small set of 2002 logs. The database was tailored for the particular contest and was up-to-date.

This was the first time I ever had a callsign database. 80-90% of the calls were there! I operated 80 m SOSB, and listening to the weak DX calling was tough. Just get a few letters correct/incorrect, and look at the screen for the rest. Just another reason for the records being broken. I broke one and ended up high in the lists. Cannot say if it is right or wrong, but certainly it is different from say fifteen years ago and worth an exchange of opinions.

ILKKA, OH1WZ
(op. at 0BH,1AD,2BH,2PM,5NQ,5LF)

NV7X on 2004-08-27
This is a non-issue. If some guy wants to spend his time looking at his computer instead of making contacts, let him. Fat lot of good it will do him.

Same thing goes for spotting networks.

Anonymous on 2004-08-13
Anonymous wrote:
"The nerve has indeed been struck, troll"

Um, I'd say YOU are the "troll".

KG5VK on 2004-08-10
It (CallSign Databases) is a Tool.
Just like an amplifier or an antenna or a beverage is a tool, if we use it correctly and appropiately it helps
If we use the Mic gain on our radio incorrectly it may get us an undesirable result.
This coming ARRL SS will be the first time we implement use of the Master Call Data base tool, does that make us a cheater ?
Or someone that is willing to use the resources to enhance the contest operation ?
Let's go back to use of Crytals instead of VFO's -no one will be too close to the band egde in a contest then !!!

steve
KG5VK

Anonymous on 2004-08-01
My Whine ! The call sign databases are a real pain for me , the suffix of my call is HP , a big time dxer/contester suffix is SP. I spend half my time getting people to acknowledge the extra dot, because obviously they had the SP pop up from their data base. Even added a key in CT to send the H slowly and the P normal .. still borderline.

HB9DRV on 2004-08-01
I write a lot of ham-related software as a hobby but think that a line should be drawn in the contesting logfile area - the ARRL and other contest organisers should not allow callsign lookups, either online or from existing logbooks. It detracts from the contesting spirit at the very least.

The logbook should contain only the information received during the contest.

If progress continues at its present rate we'll soon have a PC operating a contest on its own - this is very possible already for CW.

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